Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-28
DAILY HERALD.
A PROSPEROUS WRITER.
The Author Of t<Josiah Aliens
Wife,, and ssSamantha'' at
saratoga.

wife,, ana sssamansha,, at
saratoga.
From the Chicago Tmes.l
A woman who has Just sold the MS.
of the last of a number of popular
books for the snug sum of 81 600 may
we'll be called something of figure in
the literary world. Such a person is
Miss Marietta Holley, the author of
~ssJosiah Aliens Wife" and other
works. A woman who has, through
her widely diffused writings, aroused
in thousands of hearts a feeling OF
warm love, such as We give to the
particularly favored near neighbor
who comes in when the babies are
born. folds the worn hands over the
quiet breast when grandma dies, COM
forts us in our SORROWS and rejoices
with us in our joys, has right to the
grand title, successful writer. Such
= person is Miss Holley.
Miss Holley, with her last MS.
Samantha at Saratoga" disposed OF
to Messrs. Hubbard Brothers, OF Phila-
delphia, for $1l, 200 in hard cash, is
mildly dissipating in Washington and
meditating a new book.
81 have been to Mount Vernon to-
day." she said, one evening this week,
!" and l am very tired and my hair
feels like it hadn't been combed for a
week. But you wanted to see me, and
here l am"
And here she was, to be sure! A
rather short, plump, well-formed per-
sonage, with very dark gray eyes, SO
dark as to be almost black; dark hair
Just beginning to show the gray, and
q pair of soft and shapely hands on
which shone brilliant diamond, the
only ring she wore. She has a
dainty little mouth. In fact, she is
quite the fine looking, genial man.
nered woman I had imagined her to
be. Her neat black satin dress was
not exactly like the one worn by deal
old Samantha, she that was ]. Smiths
daughter when she went on her mem.
orable visit to Horace Greely, but il
was the style and it was a perfect fit
She is a much easier writer than
talker, and when she said that she
hated to be on exhibition it was te
see that she spoke the truth. She
blushed like school girl at the men
ton of her writings, and she is al
modest and retiring and as free from
egotism as possible. 1t is not easy
for her to express herself in conver
sation, but that is failing-if failin,
it may be called-of many anothe
successful writer.
81 have never been to Mount Yer
non BEFORE" she said, land 1 was sur
prised to see how accurately had de
scribed it in Sweet Cecily.' 1t wa
the same way about the centennial
had not visited the centennial whel
/ wrote Samantha at the Centennial.
Many of our neighbors had. Yer,
often they would be describing certail
articles to me, and say they wer
placed in such and such portion Q
the grounds or buildings. Often the,
would locate them incorrectly, and
would correct them and prove it. Blu
it was not strange" she added mod
.estly, 81 had read of it in my quie
home. They had d.seen it under tn
excitement attending such a visit.
was easier for me than for them to re
member"
However Miss Holley uses much tn
same language as the rest of the world
In speaking of Bob Burdett's recen
poem in Puck she called it "perfectl
killing" and she made frequent use G
that other time worn and indispensa
!, BILE adjective of womankind-namely
the word "lovely."
The subject of the conversation
drifted onto burglars. Miss Hole,
said she really did not know in wha
manner she could disport herself il
case she should be forced to interview
burglar.
81 am sure if I tried to shoot him
should shoot myself, the theory tina
the safest place around a woman abou
to shoot or throw stone is front O
her,"
Miss Holley's history is much the
same as that of almost any othe
writer who has fought up to success
except that she had not to fight long
She was farmers daughter. and sh,
wrote because it was in her to write
Her writings have always been wei
paid for; her literary children are no
excessively numerous, and now in tn,
prime of life she is enjoying her well
earned fame. She has many devoted
friends of near acquaintance, as vel
as hosts of friends who love and re
we're her, though they may never fee
her friendly hand-clasp or hear he
kindly voice.
81 like Sweet Cicely' best of all m,
children" she said; "it is dearer t
me, somehow. Just as a mother has
if not a greater love, at least differ
ent feeling for one of her children
Ny new book will be out in June.
have not prepared the title page yet
or given it any thought"
Miss Holley has had half-hour'
interview with Mrs. Cleveland, ant
expressed herself as delighted will
the beautiful mistress of the White
House. This is her first visit tt
Washington, although she has sen
Samantha" here more than once
She has been here two weeks ant
will remain until Saturday.
81 have enjoyed the visit immense
ly," she said. "People have beer
very kind to me. have been called
upon, dined, invited out, and have
seen sights in profusion. 1t is a beau
tiful city, and should like to livt
here"
Miss Holley may we'll be satisfied
with her life. 1t is worth living t.
have lightened peoples hearts by sucl
quaint humor, and lifted them up t,
better endeavor by such good words